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Solar Decathlon 2013: Meet the Teams

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Arizona State University and The University of New Mexico

Arizona State University and The University of New Mexico are teaming up to create SHADE -- an adaptable, self-sustaining house designed for the typical southwestern suburbia. An 800-square-foot house, SHADE uses multiple patios to extend the living space of the house.

Image: Jessica Slater, ASU

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Czech Republic: Czech Technical University

Students from Czech Technical University are creating the AIR House -- an affordable, innovative and recyclable house -- that is designed for Czech Republic’s growing senior population. Inspired by the typical Czech farmhouse, AIR House combines a minimum interior living area with a generous outside area and is made almost entirely out of wood.

Image: Team Czech Republic SD2013

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Kentucky/Indiana: University of Louisville, Ball State University and University of Kentucky

Kentucky/Indiana -- made of students from University of Louisville, Ball State University and University of Kentucky -- is building a low-cost, solar-powered house that can easily be deployed after a disaster. Inspired by a tornado that devastated a small town in Indiana, the Phoenix House doesn’t need to be connected to the power grid and can serve as the foundation for a permanent housing solution.

Image: Kentucky/Indiana

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Middlebury College

Middlebury College is designing a house for local living. Using the team’s hometown of Middlebury, Vermont, as inspiration, InSite is based on five key points -- including living in a walkable community, prioritizing social space and using local materials -- to create more sustainable lifestyles.

Image: Carolyn Bates

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Missouri University of Science and Technology

A five-time competitor, the Missouri University of Science and Technology is designing the Chameleon House -- a house that adapts to its environment and the needs of its occupants. The team is using its past experience to make improvements during the design and construction phases of the competitions.

Image: Energy Department

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Norwich University

Confronting the issues related to New England’s expensive, inefficient housing stock, Norwich University’s Delta T-90 House is designed to remain comfortable and efficient even with the 90-degree change in temperature that Vermont experiences throughout the year. Students constructed an innovative building envelope that reduces heat loss even on the coldest days.

Image: Norwich University

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Santa Clara University

Driven by the three E's -- efficiency, elegance and economy -- Santa Clara University is building Radiant House. The house uses highly efficient materials and technologies, and bamboo architectural details to make sustainable living affordable.

Image: Santa Clara University

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Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology

Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology are working together on a house that embraces the warm climate and outdoor lifestyle of Southern California. Called the Dynamic Augmented Living Environment, DALE is made up of two modules that run on a rail system, allowing its residents to modify its configuration to fit their lifestyle.

Image: SCI-Arc/Caltech

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Stanford University

Stanford University’s Start.Home provides energy efficiency at the push of a button to a new generation of environmentally conscious homeowners. The house design emphasizes innovation in modular architecture and advancements in controls for intuitive building management.

Image: Stanford University

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Stevens Institute of Technology

Stevens Institute of Technology is building a house that redefines the relationship between a home and its occupants. The team is addressing sustainability in all facets of Ecohabit -- from form, through construction, and in the dynamics of its use.

Image: Stevens Institute of Technology

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Team Alberta: University of Calgary

Students from the University of Calgary are working on Borealis -- a house that is integrated into the local ecosystem, meets the needs of people working temporarily in Canada’s remote locations and is easily transportable. The house is equipped with a fully automated control system and an energy recovery system, which stores waste heat to use for dehumidification and heating.

Image: Team Alberta

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Team Austria: Vienna University of Technology

As Team Austria, students from the Vienna University of Technology are building LISI, a simple, smart and sustainable house. Its prefabricated, lightweight construction components can be combined in different ways to adapt the house to the different needs of its occupants.

Image: Vienna University of Technology

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Team Capitol DC: The Catholic University of America, George Washington University and American University

The Catholic University of America, George Washington University, and American University are collaborating as Team Capitol DC. Called HARVEST HOME, their house is inspired by nature and has an emphasis on the use of sustainable materials, resource collectors and recycling systems.

Image: Team Capitol DC

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Team Ontario: Queen's University, Carleton University and Algonquin College

Queen's University, Carleton University and Algonquin College students are joining together as Team Ontario to make a house for the next generation of homeowners. The team’s house, ECHO, provides a connection to the great Canadian outdoors without sacrificing private spaces.

Image: Team Ontario

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University of Nevada Las Vegas

Students from the University of Nevada Las Vegas are developing a self-sufficient, ultra-efficient leisure house that responds to the unique environment of the Mojave Desert and adapts to the changing needs of a modern family. Because it is built for desert living, the house -- DesertSol -- focuses on using solar and water resources responsibly.

Image: University of Nevada Las Vegas

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The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte envisions its house, UrbanEden, as an urban infill project that meets the needs of both young professionals and empty nesters. Using geopolymer cement concrete as its primary building material, the house combines urban design with an appreciation for nature.

Image: University of North Carolina at Charlotte

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University of Southern California

The University of Southern California is building a house to meet the needs of our fast-changing world. Called the fluxHome, the team’s house features a flexible, open plan and a transformable wall and roof system.

Image: Energy Department

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West Virginia University

Inspired by its Appalachia culture and history, West Virginia University is building PEAK -- a self-sufficient house for a self-sufficient family. The house has a log cabin design but incorporates a smart home system to maximize energy efficiency.